West African nation Guinea-Bissau has once again slipped into political uncertainty after the military announced it had taken control of the government just a day before the final results of the presidential election were expected.
In a televised statement on Wednesday night, military leaders declared that the civilian government had been removed. The following day, Major General Horta Inta-E was presented as the interim head of state, appearing publicly for the first time alongside other senior officers.
The military council, calling itself the “High Military Command for the Restoration of Order,” said the takeover followed an alleged alliance between political figures and groups involved in drug trafficking.
Regional pressure resulted in the transfer of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló—who had been heading toward potential continuation of his two-term leadership—to neighboring Senegal, confirmed by Senegal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The military has maintained that he remains “under their control.”
Hours before the coup, gunfire was heard near the presidential palace and the election commission office in central Bissau. Embaló later told French media he had been removed from power, calling the situation a form of “orchestrated instability.”
Interim President Announces One-Year Transition
After being sworn in, Interim President Inta-E said the transition period would last one year. He appointed Major General Tomas Jassi as the new army chief. According to Inta-E, “it became necessary to take action to protect the country from illegal influences and the shadow of drug trafficking that threatened civilian governance.”
Following the coup announcement, Bissau remained largely silent on Thursday. Soldiers were deployed across major roads, while most residents stayed indoors. Shops, banks, and pharmacies stayed closed, creating difficulties for locals seeking essential goods. One resident told Reuters it had become hard to find even basic medicines.
Opposition Reaction and Long History of Coups
Presidential candidate Fernando Dias accused Embaló of staging a “fake coup attempt” due to fear of losing the election. His coalition demanded the immediate release of former Prime Minister Domingos Simões Pereira, who was arrested on Wednesday, along with the prompt publication of the final election results. Security forces used tear gas to disperse a small protest outside the building where Pereira was reportedly being held.
Located along a major drug-trafficking route from South America to Europe, Guinea-Bissau has long faced political turbulence. Since gaining independence in 1974, the country has witnessed at least nine coups or coup attempts. This latest intervention is the ninth in the past five years, deepening the nation’s prolonged instability, according to analysts.
